Reprimand for Mwangi as AIU tighten doping violation noose

Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has let off Kenya’s Joel Mwangi with a reprimand for attending two online courses on the World Athletics’ Education Hub (an e-learning platform) in April and May 2023.

Mwangi was banned for three years in June 2022 for an anti-doping rule violation, and the 38-year-old was not authorized to attend any courses apart from anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs.

When contacted by the AIU about his actions, the athlete readily apologized for his mistake, explaining he had not realized the courses would be prohibited because they were being organized by World Athletics online and did not involve in-person attendance.

However, the AIU stressed Mwangi must not participate, while banned, in any activity organized by World Athletics or a Member Federation (other than authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes).

“On 15 May 2023, the AIU informed the Athlete that it had recently received information concerning his participation. The AIU also reminded the Athlete, without prejudice to any action that it may take based on his apparent participation in the Courses, that he should refrain from participating during his period of Ineligibility in any capacity in an activity organized by World Athletics or a Member Federation (other than authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes), including, for the avoidance of doubt, officiating at any competition under the jurisdiction of a Member Federation,” the ruling by AIU reads.

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The integrity unit says that on the same day, the athlete responded to the AIU apologizing for his mistake.

He wrote to explain that he was interested in learning and had been seeking to better himself by completing certain education programmes whilst he was unable to compete in the sport.

“Taking into consideration the Athlete’s degree of Fault and the overall circumstances of the case, including the fact that the Athlete admitted the breach immediately upon notification, the AIU considered that a reprimand and no additional period of Ineligibility to be the appropriate Consequences for the Athlete’s violation,” AIU further writes.